See the AFL is looking at trialling player names on the back of the guernseys during one Round this year.

Seems to be a divisive topic. Not really sure why. Personally, I like the idea. While we may be able to identify our own players, it's not always so easy to know who the opposition blokes are.

They do it in the shorter forms of cricket, and seems to work well.

What do Demonlanders think?

LOL - can't wait to see "Rochford Devenish-Meares"

That will end the old jokes about the Melbourne supporter stereotype: "kick it to number 3!"

I think it will look tacky, only because it's not what I'm familiar with.

Hate it. Americanised. No need for it.

Jumpers are hard enough to distinguish in the modern era, this will just make it more of a blur from the back.

It's hard enough to tell us apart from Essendon and dogs and blues even. If the red on our back is covered it will be worse.

  On 31/01/2014 at 02:26, deanox said:

Hate it. Americanised. No need for it.

Jumpers are hard enough to distinguish in the modern era, this will just make it more of a blur from the back.

It's hard enough to tell us apart from Essendon and dogs and blues even. If the red on our back is covered it will be worse.

Sounds like the need for a clash jumper!

White would probably work well.

I'm fine with it, I grew up watching soccer and NFL/NBA and they have it. Wonder who will be the first to do the double thumb to their own name towards the crowd?

The player has to pay $1M for the rights.

It makes sense, now I won't have to buy a record, just a pair of binoculars

Sounds like a concession to the theatre goers that attend Swans, Giants, Lions and Suns games. So they now know who their players actually are.

Its hardly 'Americanising, it happens in soccer around the world too...

i don't have a problem with it, but players with long names might be problematic

I'm OK with the MFC players after a couple of rounds - a few new faces, new tatts, new hairdos, what the hell - but I'm never going to memorise the opposition, so I'm for it.

There is a history of this which others are probably better off elucidating on but in the old days I understand it was to do with having names & numbers printed in the Footy Record. Forcing people to buy it. An early version of the AFL enforcing their monopolistic all knowing status.

There is no real reason why it can't be done and in fact for GWS and Gold Coast it would be a godsend because no-one knows who their players are - particularly in NSW and QLD.

Hopefully it means we don't need Bruce McAvaney any more to tell us who has the ball. Maybe all the commentators can quieten down a bit....

  On 31/01/2014 at 03:42, jnrmac said:

There is a history of this which others are probably better off elucidating on but in the old days I understand it was to do with having names & numbers printed in the Footy Record. Forcing people to buy it. An early version of the AFL enforcing their monopolistic all knowing status.

There is no real reason why it can't be done and in fact for GWS and Gold Coast it would be a godsend because no-one knows who their players are - particularly in NSW and QLD.

Hopefully it means we don't need Bruce McAvaney any more to tell us who has the ball. Maybe all the commentators can quieten down a bit....

I would think you also believe in the Easter Bunny jnrmac!

  On 31/01/2014 at 03:42, jnrmac said:

There is a history of this which others are probably better off elucidating on but in the old days I understand it was to do with having names & numbers printed in the Footy Record. Forcing people to buy it. An early version of the AFL enforcing their monopolistic all knowing status.

Footy Record sales are probably still a big consideration, but the TV audience is likely a bigger one.

  On 31/01/2014 at 03:42, jnrmac said:

There is a history of this which others are probably better off elucidating on but in the old days I understand it was to do with having names & numbers printed in the Footy Record. Forcing people to buy it. An early version of the AFL enforcing their monopolistic all knowing status.

There is no real reason why it can't be done and in fact for GWS and Gold Coast it would be a godsend because no-one knows who their players are - particularly in NSW and QLD.

Hopefully it means we don't need Bruce McAvaney any more to tell us who has the ball. Maybe all the commentators can quieten down a bit....

you're right jnr, i remember all those arguments over the footy record and numbers

if we do get names i supposes it raises the question of do we need numbers + names

could we add names and do away with numbers?

Names should be tattooed on their forehead at the very least. Nate Jones on the back of his scone because his head's always over the footy.

jmrmac Thanks for the info. I was not aware the players ever actually had names for the AFL to disallow it, would love to see old photos!

Maybe Americanised is the wrong word. How about "dis-Australianise"?

My problem is that the jumpers are two busy. No other sport has the combination of:

- Size of ground

- Number of players at or around the ball

- Mixed positions around the ground (ie compared to rugby or NFL which have a clear out half / your half separating the players from each team) even soccer has a demarcation between teams.

- Fast movement in close in all directions

Which make identifying who is who difficult.

We need jumpers with broad patterns, solid colours, and minimal details to enable identification.

Numbers with outlines, club mascot/logos, investing size of sponsors logos and now player names all make this difficult.

Why do the players forget who they are playing with during the game?

fitting Kennedy-Harris ought to be a squeeze !!

  On 31/01/2014 at 02:15, daisycutter said:

LOL - can't wait to see "Rochford Devenish-Meares"

just as long as he doesn't play for the MCC, I don't care. maybe for the Pies, that would be Odd.

  On 31/01/2014 at 02:13, Vagg said:

See the AFL is looking at trialling player names on the back of the guernseys during one Round this year.

Seems to be a divisive topic. Not really sure why. Personally, I like the idea. While we may be able to identify our own players, it's not always so easy to know who the opposition blokes are.

They do it in the shorter forms of cricket, and seems to work well.

What do Demonlanders think?

I think it'll struggle to work with the free agency. "Rochford Devenish-Meares"

... unless the players 'Own their jumper numbers', like a license plate, but with alternating colours. RD-M 666 transferable identity.

No. Just No.

once upon a time the jumpers had nothing on them except red and blue!

now they have sponsors, afl logo, mfc logo, and the apparel sponsor just on the front, with another sponsor and a number on the back. some clubs also have their initials as it were.

Too much garbage. I hate the rugby league jumpers and how much stuff they have on them.

if its a case of not being able to recognise the players (esp on tv) HOW ABOUT THE CHANNELS USE HD INSTEAD OF SD

Isn't the whole reason for numbers on Guernseys for player identification? Why do we need another one?

In with the names out with numbers. Anyonewon who can identify 18 times 40 has a little too much time on their hands !